Nightlife

Located between the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida theme parks, this nightclub, restaurant, and shopping district had its coming-out party in 1999 and competes head-to-head with Disney's Pleasure Island. It opens daily at 11am, but the hours of many clubs and restaurants vary, so call in advance if you're interested in a specific venue. Most clubs stay open until 2am.

At 30 acres, CityWalk (tel. 407/363-8000; www.citywalk.com) is five times larger than Pleasure Island. Alcohol is prominently featured here as it's geared to an adult crowd; younger members of the family should always be accompanied by an adult if allowed to tag along. The nights can get pretty wild. (Note: Some clubs here won't allow anyone younger than 21 inside after a certain hour -- see the listings below for details.)

Just like Pleasure Island, you can walk this district for free at night or visit individual clubs and pay an individual cover charge. CityWalk also offers two party passes. A pass to all clubs costs $11.99 plus tax. For $15.40 plus tax, you get a club pass and a movie at Universal Cineplex (tel. 407/354-5998). Universal also offers free club access to those who buy select multiday theme-park tickets. There's also a "Meal & Movie Deal" option; for $21.95 you can get entrance to a movie at the Cineplex and dinner at one of the CityWalk restaurants (select menu items apply -- see www.universalorlando.com for complete details).

Daytime parking in the Universal Orlando garages costs $11, but self-parking is free after 6pm. To get to CityWalk, take I-4 exit 74B (westbound) or 75A (eastbound) and follow the signs to the parks.

Chilling Out

You can grab a margarita to go and "chill" in the brightly colored wooden chairs (think of the Adirondacks) outside Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. It's a perfect spot to watch the crowds scurrying to and from the theme parks.

Taking Center Stage

With a live band and backup singers, guests are invited to take to the stage and show off their talents (or, in some cases, the lack there of) at Rising Star (tel. 407/224-3663), CityWalk's latest addition. Replacing CityJazz, this all new karaoke club features a live band, backup singers, and a host to get things going every Tuesday through Saturday. On Sunday and Monday the music's recorded but the backup singers and host are live. There's a cover charge of $7 (no charge to sing) and a full bar if you need to loosen up before taking the stage. You must be 21 or older to enter except on Thursday, when the age minimum drops to 18.

A Night at the Movies

Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular, Universal Orlando's newest seasonal show, made its debut in the summer of 2006. This spectacular nighttime production (albeit seasonal) immerses guests in the movie experience projecting images from Hollywood's hottest hits across four tremendous "cinespheres" in the park's central lagoon. The scenes and images appear and change throughout the show while 300 outdoor speakers ensure that the accompanying music is heard by everyone who's even remotely nearby. Lasers and special pyrotechnic effects add to the already amazing visuals.